The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Kael’s Awake

Kael stirred awake on the lounge sofa, his hair sticking out in every possible direction. Rubbing his eyes, he groaned softly and blinked at the sight of Aeliana and Lucian standing nearby.

Aeliana let out a soft laugh, her voice light and melodic. “Oh, Kael, your hair looks like a bird tried to nest in it.”

Kael ran a hand through his unruly locks, grumbling, “I’ve been keeping watch all night. Well, excuse me if I’m not perfectly in tip-top shape.”

Lucian, catching Aeliana’s laughter, couldn’t help but chuckle too. The sound startled both Kael and Aeliana; it was rare to hear Lucian laugh so openly. “What’s so funny?” Kael asked, still half-asleep.

Lucian crossed his arms, a grin tugging at his lips. “Nothing much, Kael. Just your stellar morning appearance.”

Kael frowned and muttered, “Some gratitude would be nice. I didn’t sleep to protect you both.”

“Then I have a task for you, Kael,” Lucian said, his tone turning serious but still lighthearted enough not to alarm him.

Kael sat up straighter, though his hair was still a mess. “What task?”

Lucian smirked. “I need you to train Aeliana. Help her prepare for a duel with Sylvara, the werewolf Luna. While you do that, I’ll focus on preparing myself for the political chaos this duel is likely to stir up.”

Kael’s brow furrowed, still trying to process the request in his groggy state. “Wait. Train her? For a duel? Against a werewolf?”

Aeliana, sensing Kael’s confusion, stepped in. “Yes, Kael. Sylvara has challenged my position as Lucian’s queen. If I win this duel, I’ll prove my worth and put an end to this nonsense. If I lose…” Her voice faltered, but Lucian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“You won’t lose,” Lucian interjected firmly. “Kael, you’re the best swordsman I’ve seen in the light kingdom. You’re perfectly suited to help her. I’ll handle the rest.”

Kael rubbed his temples, still half-asleep. “You want me to train her to fight a werewolf Luna while you… do what, exactly?”

“Prepare for the fallout,” Lucian said. “And keep an eye on Sylvara’s political allies. We can’t just deal with this on the battlefield; there’s more at play.”

Kael finally stood up, still looking like he’d slept in a windstorm. “Fine, I’ll do it. But Aeliana, you’d better listen to me during training. No slacking off.”

Aeliana rolled her eyes but smiled. “Of course, Captain Kael.”

Lucian chuckled at her playful tone. “Good. It’s settled then. Kael will train you, and I’ll make sure no one uses this duel as an excuse to challenge our union.”

Kael stretched and muttered under his breath, “Great. Just what I needed—babysitting and a political shenanigans.”

Aeliana laughed again, her infectious mirth lighting up the room. “Don’t worry, Kael. I promise to make it worth your while.”

Lucian smiled at their banter, his heart lighter despite the challenges ahead. “Let’s get to it, then. The sooner the better.”

Aeliana crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on Lucian as Kael rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Why do we have to train separately? You’re always the one saying we’re stronger together, so why not train me yourself?”

Lucian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Because, Aeliana, my plate is already overflowing. Training with you, while important, isn’t the only challenge I’m juggling right now.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion. “What else is more important than this duel?”

He met her gaze with a mixture of patience and urgency. “Negotiations. Not just any negotiations, but ones with Ulric’s niece, Luna Sylvara, who’s already stirring trouble by claiming the duel is a farce. And if that wasn’t enough, Lady Seraphine’s sister, Lady Selinthra is suddenly trying to interject herself into this mess, seeking to undermine me entirely.”

Aeliana tilted her head. “What?! Lady Seraphine has a sister?”

Lucian nodded. “Yes, one with a penchant for meddling in matters she doesn’t understand but can influence for her gain. If I don’t manage these talks carefully, it won’t matter whether you win the duel or not—there’ll be rebellion in my domain before the week is out.”

Kael, still stretching his sore limbs, chimed in. “Sounds like you’ve got a real circus to deal with, Lucian.”

Lucian’s lips twitched into a wry smile. “You have no idea.”

“But why not handle both together?” Aeliana pressed, her voice softening. “You can train me and deal with the politics. We’ve always supported each other.”

He reached out, brushing a strand of her platinum hair behind her ear. “You supporting me means trusting that I’ll do what needs to be done to protect us both. Kael is more than capable of preparing you for the duel, and I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

Kael scoffed lightly. “Flattery won’t make me go easy on her, Lucian.”

Aeliana sighed, though her resolve remained firm. “Fine. But if Kael overworks me, I’m blaming you.”

Lucian’s smirk returned. “You’ll thank me when you win. And don’t underestimate Kael. He’s tougher than he looks, even if he can’t handle a little darkness in my castle.”

Kael glared at him, muttering, “I handled it just fine, thank you.”

Lucian’s expression grew serious again as he addressed Aeliana. “This isn’t just about the duel. It’s about showing everyone that you belong by my side, not as some temporary arrangement but as my queen. I need you to be strong, not just for yourself but for what we’re building together.”

Her determination solidified at his words, though her heart ached at the thought of being apart from him, even temporarily. “I understand. Just don’t let those negotiations distract you too much. I need you to come back in one piece.”

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Always.”

Kael groaned and muttered under his breath, “Can we skip the romance and get to work already?”

Aeliana chuckled. “All right, Captain. Let’s see if you’re as good a trainer as you are a swordsman.”

Lucian watched them head toward the training yard, a faint smile on his face before he turned toward his study, his mind already racing with strategies for the negotiations ahead.

Lucian leaned back in his chair, sipping his tea leisurely as he watched Kael idly stirring his own cup. Aeliana sat across from him, her delicate fingers spreading cream and jam on a warm scone. She occasionally glanced up at Lucian, her mischievous smile only fueling his amusement.

“But I’ll join you in training from time to time, Aeliana,” Lucian said after swallowing a bite of his scone. His tone was casual, though his crimson eyes held a spark of intent. “Not just to see your progress, but to ensure you’re pushing yourself. And don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re my fiancée.”

Aeliana paused, her knife hovering over her scone as she raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” she said, her voice dripping with mock challenge. She set the knife down with a flourish. “Well, don’t expect me to hold back just because you’re the big bad demon lord.”

Kael snorted mid-sip, lowering his teacup to avoid spilling. “I’d pay good money to see her wipe the floor with you,” he muttered, his lips quirking into a smirk.

Lucian’s gaze flicked to Kael, his voice dry but teasing. “Careful, Captain. You’re walking a fine line.”

Aeliana chuckled, reaching for another scone. She slathered it with buttermilk and cream, then looked Lucian up and down. “You’re on, Lucian. I’ll take that as a challenge. But don’t cry to me when I manage to land a hit on you.”

Lucian’s lips curved into a slow smile, his deep voice laced with amusement. “If you manage to land a hit, Aeliana, I might actually shed tears of pride. Just don’t let it go to your head.”

Kael groaned, setting his teacup down with a clink. “You two are insufferable,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair. “Can we get to the point? Or are you going to keep flirting over scones all day?”

Lucian reached for a dab of cream, casually spreading it on his scone. “Patience, Kael. Greatness takes time. Besides, it’s not every day you get such fine scones.”

Aeliana laughed, brushing a crumb from her lips. “Don’t worry, Kael. You’ll get your turn. But don’t be surprised when I outshine you too.”

Kael raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing. He picked up his teacup again, taking a slow sip before responding. “Oh, is that a challenge, Princess?”

Lucian leaned forward slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Settle down, children,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “I expect both of you to take this seriously. I’ll be watching.”

Aeliana’s cheeks flushed slightly, though her determination didn’t waver. “I’ll look forward to it,” she said, her voice soft but resolute.

Lucian’s smirk deepened as he finished the last bite of his scone. “Good. Just don’t embarrass me, Princess.”

Kael rolled his eyes, pushing his chair back. “All right, enough tea and scones. Let’s see if you two can actually keep up with each other—or me, for that matter.”

Aeliana laughed again, her confidence unwavering as she followed Kael. Lucian watched them go, a small smile lingering on his lips as he sipped the last of his tea.